El Cerrito, El Sobrante suspects named in $1.3 million gold heist

David Johnson is seen in this photograph distributed by the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department on Saturday, March 30, 2013 in Oakland, Calif. Authorities from around Northern California are searching for Johnson and David Wayne Bailey, who are charged with stealing more than $1 million in gold from the Siskiyou County s historic collection early last year. The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office was also involved because the men have addresses in El Cerrito and El Sobrante. (Courtesy Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department)

Authorities from around Northern California are searching for two Contra Costa County men charged with stealing more than $1 million in historic gold jewelry and artifacts from a county courthouse display case in Yreka.

Detectives from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office traveled to the Bay Area searching for the men, David Dean Johnson, 49, of El Cerrito, and Scott Wayne Bailey, 51, of El Sobrante, wanted on separate $1 million arrest warrants.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office assisted in the search of addresses in El Cerrito and El Sobrante that turned up more evidence but did not lead investigators to either man.

Authorities say they stole nearly $1.3 million worth of gold and other items from a display case in the courthouse lobby in Yreka, the Siskiyou County seat and once a bustling Gold Rush town, during the Jan. 31, 2012, heist.

"These thieves stole a part of Siskiyou County history, which represents the hard work, sacrifice, traditions, and pioneer spirit which characterizes the personality of Siskiyou County and its citizens -- past and present," Sheriff Jon Lopey said in a statement released Friday.

The entire collection was valued at $3 million and investigators believe some of the stolen goods have already been used to buy "high-value items," according to Lopey.

Authorities also searched a residence in Redding and one in Shasta Lake.

Advertisement

"They're not in custody. We are still looking," Siskiyou County spokeswoman Allison Giannini said.

She asked anyone with further information to call Det. Yves Pike at 530-842-8354 or the 24-hour dispatch line at 530-841-2900.

In March, authorities filed federal charges against a Hayward man suspected of stealing a Gold Rush-era jewelry box valued at $805,000 from the Oakland Museum of California on Jan. 9. He is also suspected of stealing gold nuggets and Gold Rush-era pistols from the museum in November.